The Six Loves of James I, Gareth Russell
The Six Loves of James I, Gareth Russell
List: $29.99 | Sale: $21.00
Club: $14.99

The Six Loves of James I

Author: Gareth Russell

Narrator: Gareth Russell

Unabridged: 16 hr 43 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 12/02/2025


Synopsis

Named a Best Book of the Year by Library Journal and Daily Mail (London)

A groundbreaking and insightful exploration of King James I, enigmatic successor to Queen Elizabeth I, from the “meticulous researcher” (The Wall Street Journal) and author of the “enjoyable and readable” (Philippa Gregory, #1 New York Times bestselling author) The Palace.

From the assassination of his father to the explosive political and personal intrigues of his reign, this fresh biography reveals as never before the passions that drove King James I.

Gareth Russell’s “rollicking, gossipy” (Dan Jones, author of The Plantagenets), and scholarly voice invites us into James’s world, revealing a monarch whose reign was defined by both his public power and personal vulnerabilities. For too long, historians have shied away from or condemned the exploration of his sexuality. Now, Russell offers a candid narrative that not only reveals James’s relationships with five prominent men but also challenges the historical standards applied to the examination of royal intimacies.

This biography stands as a significant contribution to the understanding of royal history, illuminating the personal experiences that shaped James’s political decisions and his philosophical views on masculinity and sexuality.

About Gareth Russell

Educated at Oxford University and Queen’s University, Belfast, Gareth Russell is a historian, novelist, and playwright. He is the author of several books, including The PalaceThe Ship of DreamsYoung and Damned and FairThe Emperors, and Do Let’s Have Another Drink. He lives in Belfast, Northern Ireland. 


Reviews

Goodreads review by Brendan on November 28, 2025

James I of England is one of those historical characters who is tough to pin down. Does he suffer from following Elizabeth I (I call her Lizzie)? Do we blame him for the problems his successors ran into? How much of James's reputation is colored by his liaisons? Luckily, I can think of no better aut......more

Goodreads review by Sarah on March 09, 2025

After exploring the life of court favourite and flamboyant George Villiers in Leicester last week ( I am a heritage lead for an LGBTQ+ charity), this felt very fitting. Both riveting and scholarly. Gareth Russell has done another sensational job with this study of King James I and 400 years of Queer......more

Goodreads review by Chrissie on July 28, 2025

This is a thoroughly enjoyable biography. It is also thoroughly researched, and I really felt the author's care for his subject; so much so that I will now actively seek other titles by him. The evidence for James having male lovers is very strong, but there is so much more to him than that. Gareth R......more

Goodreads review by Jessica on October 18, 2025

Thank you, NetGalley, for granting me a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. This is a tricky book for me to review. James VI is the British monarch that I have long found the most interesting, for both the number of obstacles he had to overcome and for just how little consensus......more

Goodreads review by Waverli on July 08, 2025

Received ARC via Edelweiss. 4.5 Stars. Really enjoyed this read. A deeply-researched dive into James VI and I's reign spanning the entirety of his lifetime. His romances were included, but more as windows into his life and cultural context as a whole. I was expecting more of an analysis of these six......more


Quotes

"Belfast-born Gareth Russell’s rich accent adds ambiance to this engaging biography of Scotland’s James VI and England’s James I. Despite the suggestive title, Russell’s well-researched narrative covers all aspects of James’ life and his place among the Stuart rulers who preceded and followed him. James’ private inclinations have been known for centuries, and a significant feature here is Russell’s balance and restraint. James’ belief in witches counts against him more than his errant sex life, and his faults are outweighed by his devotion to his family and to the business of the state. James sponsored Shakespeare and the English Bible and—for better or worse—the foundations of an ocean empire. Russell, an amiable, unpretentious narrator, tells James’ story with ease and insight."